Method of making trimmed heel seats



May 3 1932. c. c. ABBOTT Lgfiflfi METHOD OF MAKING TRIMMED HEEL SEATS Filed March 20, 1929 Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES CUSHMAN ABBOTT, OF AUBURN, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO ABBOTT WILSON MA- CHINE COMPANY, OF AUBURN, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE METHOD OF MAKING TRIlVIMED HEEL SEATS Application filed March 20, 1929. Serial No. 348,598.

ticular heel being attached so that when the heel is attached there will be no perceptible break or joint to detract from the appearance of the shoe, the desiderata being that the heel seat margin shall accurately coincide with the breast line of the heel and that any flap edges resulting from the trimming operation shall be concealed.

In this connection my invention contemplates an improved sole in which the channel flap is so severed as to overlie the breast line cutformed in severing the heel seat trim.

My invention provides for this sole and accomplishes the above results by a trimming before the shoe is leveled and stitched. In accomplishing these results I employ a meth 0d of operation which is at once both simple and accurate.

According to my invention, I first lay the sole in place on the lasted upper with its heel margins free, and then gauge the heel seat from the base of the heel counter and trim the edges of the heel area of the sole by a vertical out while supporting the free edges or margins o1 the heel seat against said cutting pressure. This out also includes the new channel flap severance of my novel sole.

The sole is thus gauged while in place on the shoe and trimmed along predetermined lines of heel size and under conditions which make for accuracy of trim. The heel margins though free are nonetheless supported and are cut against their support, and they and the included portion of the channelled edge are trimmed accurately at the breast line. The channel flap itself as above stated is severed in such manner as to leave turnedback portions which overlap the breast line when laid down and hence are concealed when the heel is attached. This in fact provides a new heel seat.

The manner of practicing my invention and my novel sole are described and illustrated in the accompanying specification and drawings wherein a characteristic 7 sole trimmed in accordance with my invention, together with characteristic apparatus for the practice of my method, are shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a bottom view of a sole blank of usual type.

Fig. 2 shows an upper with attached sole in operation position.

Fig. 3 a fragment of my sole after trimming.

Fig. 4 the same after the channel flap is returned, and

Fig. 5v the same with heel attached.

Referring first to Fig. 1, I have shown therein at 1 a sole of standard type provided with the usual inturned channel flap 2 and stitch channel 3.

In accordance with my invention, the sole is laid in place and tacked or otherwise fastened (but not stitched) on its lasted upper 4 with its heel margins free, and is gauged at the heel seat by moving it against a gauge 6 and beneath a cutting die 7.

The die has a U-shaped cutting edge 7 for severing the margins at the heel seat 1, terminating in outwardly disposed edges which make cuts 8 beyond the breast line 9 of the heel seat. The channel flap is cut inwardly and rearwardly as at 10 (see Fig. 3) in turned-back position so that it will overlap the breast line when laid down in place as indicated in Fig. 4. Intermediate of the cut edges 8 and 10 the sole is preferably indented generally straight by a scoring 9 for making the breast-line indication for the heel seat, although this may be omitted if desired.

Before the heel seat is actually trimmed I insert beneaththe free margins of the heel seat 1 a support 12 against which the cutter acts.

The gauge 6 is a forked gauge corresponding in size and contour to the heel seat and is provided with a multiplying arm 14 pivoted at 13 and adjustably held by a detent 15 en gaged in a series of size holes 16.

The gauge thus cooperates to insure accuracy of position of the heel seat for trimming and the subja-cent support afiorded by the plate 12 insures clean severance of the projecting margins 5.

The included portions 10 of the flap 2 are cut longer than the breast-line trim or that they may be folded down beneath the heel breast and thus concealed When the heel H is attached.

Variousmodifications in the design of the sole and inuthe devices used in the practice of my invention may obviously be resorted to Within the spirit and scope of my invention without departing from the limits of the ap pended claim.

hat I therefore claim and desire to .secure :by Letters Patent is:

That method of trimming the heel of a shoe sole having a stitching channel and its covering flap, consisting in trimming and severing the heel margin with the flap upturned, and in simultaneously severing the flap 011 a line behind the breast line. i

In testimony whereof I aff x my signature.

CHARLES CUSHMAN ABBOTT. 

